Home guard jawan killed in road accident
Sant Kabir Nagar (UP), Dec 26 (PTI) A 45-year-old home guard jawan was today killed after being hit by a tractor- trolley near Mukhlishpur railway crossing, police said.
Devisharan was going to his village when he was hit by the tractor-trolley. He died on the spot, they said.
An FIR has been registered in this connection and hunt is on to trace the absconding driver.

Govt seeks views on increasing age for induction in IAS
New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) The Centre has sought views from state governments on increasing the present age limit of 54 for induction of state service officers into IAS and IPS among others.
At present, maximum age limit for consideration for induction into three all India services--Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS)--is 54 years as on January 1, of the year for which the select list is prepared.

Death toll rises to 81, operations launched agst NDFB(S)
Operations were today intensified against NDFB(S) militants along the border with Arunachal Pradesh even as the death toll in the massacre rose to 81.
Normal life was, meanwhile, disrupted by a bandh called by several organisations in Assam.
Two persons, one each in Sonitpur and Chirang, injured in Tuesday's attack by NDFB(S) militants succumbed to their injuries last night, while a charred body was recovered from Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar district this morning, a police...

Drug menace a national pain: PM
Voicing concern over the "devastating" drug addiction menace, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said society as well as the government will have to work together to fight this problem and that a helpline would be set up soon to assist those seeking solutions.
In his third 'Mann Ki Baat' programme on radio, he said the menace is a "national pain" but instead of the youth mired in the problem, drugs should be shunned.

Prez recovering after angioplasty at Army hospital
President Pranab Mukherjee was today recovering well after undergoing a heart procedure at the Army's Research and Referral Hospital where doctors installed a coronary stent in his artery to remove a blockage.
The coronary angioplasty was conducted on Mukherjee, 79, yesterday at the hospital after he was admitted there with stomach problems and related ailments.

Thoughts with parents undergoing surgery in UK: Omar
As polling was underway in Sonawar assembly constituency in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who is contesting from the seat, said his thoughts were with his parents who are undergoing an organ transplant in the UK.
"My thoughts are with my parents as they both prepare? for surgery today. I wish I could be there with them but that? wasn't to be," Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.

Rumblings in political parties in focus in Punjab
Growing friction between ruling alliance partners Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP, infighting within opposition Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party making inroads in Punjab's political scene kept the state in focus in 2014.
The second consecutive term of Parkash Singh Badal led SAD-BJP alliance government witnessed souring of relations between the two "oldest" allies, which had an adverse impact on governance in the otherwise vibrant Punjab

Man crushed to death by rally-bus
A man died and another was injured when a scooty, which they were riding, was mowed down by a private bus returning from BJP rally, the police said today.
The incident occurred yesterday and the deceased was identified as Mohmmed Shahzad (35), while his colleague Ikram, who was injured, was taken to nearby hospital, they said.

Sufism taught me to learn from all truths: Sonam Kalra
Singer Sonam Kalra whose music amalgamates teachings of different faiths, says Sufism has taught her to accept all truths and believe that all truths have their own substance.
"I came to accept that each of us has our own truths and feel an overwhelming love for God that I take from Sufism" said the singer.

PM holds talks to boost cooperation with sanctions-hit Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin today held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to further boost cooperation between the two strategic partners in crucial sectors like defence, energy and trade at a time when Russian economy was facing Western sanctions.
Putin, who arrived here last night, is likely to push for enhancing supply of military hardware to India as well as expansion of bilateral economic engagement in a range of areas.
It is the first annual summit meeting...

Pakistan stun Holland to reach Champions Trophy semis
Putting their disappointing pool campaign behind, an inspired Pakistan notched up their first win over the Netherlands in 16 years, stunning the World Cup and Olympic silver medallist 4-2 to reach the semifinals of Hero Champions Trophy hockey tournament, here today.
The 4-2 win was Pakistan's first win over the Dutch in the Champions Trophy in 12 attempts, a run dating back to 1998 edition of the tournament in Lahore.
After back-to-back wins in pool stages, the Netherlands...

Dilip Kumar turns 92, discharged from hospital
Legendary actor Dilip Kumar, who turned 92 today, was discharged from hospital where he was admitted last week for a chest infection.
As the actor stepped out of the hospital, he was greeted by anxious fans who had come to enquire about his health and wish him on his birthday.
"Dilip Saab is feeling great now and does not require to be in hospital. So we have discharged him," Dr Jalil Parkar, a well-known pulmonologist, who treated the veteran actor at Lilavati hospital,...

GSLV-Mk III rolls out to launch pad at Sriharikota
India's Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) scheduled to be launched next week has been rolled out to the launch pad at Sriharikota for an experimental mission, ISRO today said.
"ISRO's most powerful launcher ever, GSLV Mk-III rolls out from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad for its Experimental Flight slated later in this month," Indian Space Research Organisation said on its Facebook page.
First experimental suborbital...

Chamling to complete 20 years in office tomorrow
Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who is serving his fifth consecutive term, will complete 20 years in office tomorrow.
64-year-old Chamling first assumed office on December 12 in 1994 when his Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) won the Assembly elections.
He won a fifth consecutive time in the state Assembly elections held in May 2014.
Chamling is currently the longest serving Chief Minister in the country. He may break the 23-year-old record of Jyoti Basu, Chief Minister of...

Unregistered taxi services asked to stop operations
In the wake of Centre's advisory to states to ensure stoppage of web-based taxi services following the alleged rape of a 27-year-old woman executive in Delhi, Karnataka government today said all taxi services not registered in the state will be considered illegal and will have to stop operations immediately.
"All those taxi services who have not registered in the state will be considered illegal and will be stopped from operating. Those who have registered will be legal and can...

I am not doing any South projects: Asin
Asin Thottumkal has rubbished rumours that she is returning to South films.
The actress, whose last Bollywood release was 'Khiladi 786', clarified that she had no plans to return to South after the news was posted on a fake handle in Asin's name on Twitter.
"I am not on Twitter and I'd appreciate it if people checked with me before publishing rubbish put up on fake handles. I'm am not doing nor looking at doing any South projects currently. I am currently...

Woman dies during sterilisation operation, probe ordered
District administration of Mathura has formed a four-member team of doctors to probe into the death of a woman who died of cardiac arrest when she had gone for a tubectomy surgery at a hospital here.
"On the direction of District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar, the inquiry team has been formed," Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr B S Yadav said.
Poonam (30), resident of Aligarh, yesterday died of cardiac arrest when she had gone for a tubectomy surgery at the district hospital...

India's communication satellite GSAT-16 launched successfully
Bengaluru, Dec 7 (PTI) Augmenting India's space capacity to boost communication services, its latest satellite GSAT-16 was successfully launched on board Arianespace rocket from the space port of Kourou in French Guiana in the early hours today, after a delay of two days due to bad weather.
The satellite with a lift-off mass of 3,181 kg was injected into the intended Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) about 32 minutes after a perfect lift-off of Ariane 5 at 2.

Aatish Taseer delves into Ayodhya, Sanskrit in new book
New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) A new book by writer Aatish Taseer has Sanskrit as the central metaphor and touches several issues like Ayodhya, 1984 riots and the Emergency.
"The Way Things Were" is a family saga set in Delhi amid the commotion of the last 40 years of Indian history.
Skanda's father Toby, the Maharaja of Kalasuryaketu who is a master of Sanskrit, has died, estranged from Toby?s mother and from the India he loved.

India, Russia to hold talks on FGFA aircraft project
New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) Ahead of President Vladimir Putin's visit here, Indian and Russian officials will be holding talks on the multi-billion dollar Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) joint project.
Defence sources said talks would be held before Putin's visit on December 10 as both India and Russia are keen to go ahead with the FGFA.
However, there are issues on which both sides have not arrived at a consensus.

SEBI can withhold info on probe against RIL: CIC
New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) The Central Information Commission has allowed Securities and Exchange Board of India to withhold the information on its probe into alleged short selling of shares by Reliance Industries Limited in 2007 saying investigation has not concluded yet.

Two clerks suspended in Hastinapur land grab scam
Muzaffarnagar, Dec 7 (PTI) Two revenue clerks were suspended on corruption charges in connection with the land grabbing case at Hastinapur Sanctuary.
The district authorities suspended Revenue Clerks Ramesh Chand and Promod Kumar yesterday after they were found involved in alleged encroachment of the sanctuary land.
According to Tehsildar Harsh Chawla, the two were found involved in the government land grabbing case. Earlier, these clerks were shifted to Budhansa Tehsil from...

Search on to trace accused in cab rape case
New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) A massive search operation was today on across three states to nab the taxi driver of an international cab-booking service, who allegedly raped a 27-year-old woman on her way home on Friday night.
The driver identified as Shiv Kumar Yadav (32) hails from Mathura, UP, and the car in which the crime took place was recovered from the city late last night.

Suspension of work at Sonali tea garden
Sonali tea garden, whose owner was hacked to death allegedly by its workers a week ago, today served the formal suspension of work notice.
The notice was put up at the gates of the tea garden in Jalpaiguri district, and district magistrate Pritha Sarkar confirmed it.
The future of a total 560 tea garden employees, permanent and temporary, have been affected by the suspension of work.

Sensex, Nifty continue record-breaking run
Continuing their rallies, the BSE Sensex and the CNX Nifty set new records during the week under review and closed at new closing highs of 28,693.99 and 8,588.25 respectively on sustained foreign fund inflows amid falling crude prices.
Global crude oil prices dropped to USD 72/barrel, the lowest level since August 2010. Falling oil price is good news for India, which imports 80 per cent of its requirements.

Kushwaha again sent to 14-day judicial custody
Bahujan Samaj Party MLA B L Kushwaha was again placed in 14-days' judicial custody by a local court here in connection with a murder case.
According to prosecution sources, the latest order was passed by the court of additional chief Judicial magistrate.
On October 18 also, a local court had remanded the BSP MLA to 14-day judicial custody.

15 killed, 14 injured in terror attack in China's Xinjiang
Fifteen people, including 11 "mobsters", were killed and 14 others injured in a terrorist attack in China's restive Xinjiang province today.
The attack occurred Shache County in the northwestern province, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Tianshan news website said that the attackers used vehicles, knives and explosives in the assault. It also claimed that the dead included 11 of the attackers branded as "mobsters" by state media.

Reap demographic dividend with education and skills: President
President Pranab Mukherjee today said India must reap its demographic dividend by improving the quality of teaching and focussing on skill development.
"Half of our population is below the age of 25 and in the next ten years the largest work force would be in India. This is demographic dividend. We must think how can we use this with the help of training, education and skills," Mukherjee said at a function organised by the Metropolitan Institution here.

Cong thanks JK people for voting in large numbers
Hailing people of Jammu and Kashmir for registering a record voting percentage in the first phase of Assembly elections, Congress today hoped that voters will turn up in large numbers in the remaining four phases as well.